Manchester United 1 West Ham 0
We seem to have perfected the art of losing unluckily by one goal to the top six clubs. The first 37 minutes saw United restricted to a couple of efforts from Ronaldo and Rashford that were comfortably dealt with by Fabianski. Benrahma almost got through on a couple of occasions, but it was generally unambitious fare from the Hammers, who seemed to be playing in Blackpool's discarded kit.
Flynn Downes is a promising holding midfielder but plays virtually every ball backwards to Rice — playing him in the number ten role seems bizarre when Antonio, Fornals or Lanzini would be a much better fit. The goal arrives when Eriksen collects a throw-in and spins in a lovely cross for Rashford to get ahead of Kehrer and power home a header.
Areola has to come on for the injured Fabianski and after picking up a silly booking and then making a rash challenge Scamacca is taken off for his own protection. Antonio makes a difference with his hold-up play and for the final half an hour the Hammers give it a real go. Dalot has to make a great defensive header to thwart Antonio, and then Michail tests De Gea with a long-range piledriver.
De Gea then produces a great flying save to deny Zouma who has got his head on Cresswell's cross. Fred heads against the post at the other end, but still West Ham come forward. Fornals, on for Downes, does really well to pull the ball back for Bowen's goalbound shot to be deflected wide by Harry Maguire.
In the last action of the day Benrahma's run causes panic and Rice sends in a hypersonic missile of a shot that De Gea somehow tips wide. WHU really should have got a point from this and you have to hope that at some point our luck will turn in front of goal.
So that's unlucky defeats at Chelsea, Liverpool and United. At least we have the chance to get some revenge at the London Stadium after the World Cup. And to look on the bright side, Michail Antonio had a good game as a pundit on Match of the Day 2. It's not a time for panic, but Moyes needs to restore some adventure, get Paqueta fit and consider playing Scamacca and Antonio together against Palace.
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